It's Freebie Friday on Catch the Bug

Well another Friday has rolled around and it's time for another Freebie Friday on Catch the Bug. Jodie has more goodness to offer today and here's my card:


I searched and searched through all my digi paper and my paper bins and could not find any bandana paper and I really, really wanted to use some on this card. I flashed on a mini background set from SU called Fresh Fillers and sure enough - voila - a reasonable facsimile of bandana background. The image is colored with my watercolor crayons and an aqua-painter (my new go-to coloring method). I haven't abandoned my koh-i-noor pencils, just having so much fun playing with the watercolor crayons!

I've also been playing with a new online color toy that I will share with you this weekend using Flickr. Totally cool and so easy to lose yourself playing with it! I'm also hoping to get my April Christmas cards done and - NEWS FLASH -Libby is bringing back my favorite challenge - From Courtney's Closet - and this week's outfit is right up my alley - it's purple!

Thanks for visiting!

~chris

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles

If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Saying goodbye to a friend!

Well the cards are where they needed to be now, so I will share them with you. A friend and co-worker recently graduated from college and is now ready to get on with her life. She is moving back home and soon will be heading to New Zealand for a couple weeks to sight see and celebrate her birthday. I made two cards for her, one for everyone to sign and one just from me.




The first is the card from everyone and it is a large card - 5.5 x 8.5. The second one is just a standard sized card, but I used one of my new digital sentiments on it. I'll have some more cards with the other sentiments to show you over the next few weeks.

Thanks for visiting!

~chris

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles

If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Garden stuff

I know I promised cards, but they haven't been delivered yet ... tomorrow though. In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures from my spring flower garden. My bff Sabrina turned me on to allium (I love, love, love the dried version) and so dh tilled up a bed and planted some, along with tulips, daffodils, and grape hyacinth - isn't he just the best! My dear little brother (not so little anymore I think he's nearing 50!) gave me a gift card for Home Depot for xmas last year and we used it to get these bulbs. I can't begin to tell you how wonderful they look - so I'll just show you a few pix. I'm experimenting and learning to use my camera still, so bear with me.








I'm going to keep taking pix of the allium as it continues to bloom so watch for more progress pictures.

Thanks for visiting!

~chris

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles

If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Monday Night Stamping

I always wish I took more pix of the great cards that Sabrina makes, but I did get this one:


These are two that I made for my display board for the Spring Stamp Camp:



I really like Trendy Trees and now that it's on my desk, I think I'll make some French cards with it. I want to get a box out to my aunt this week so I better get on the ball!

Thanks for visiting!

~chris

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles

If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Couple of cards to share

Well, I told you that I would probably forget something for the stamp camp on Saturday - I DIDN'T forget any of the card supplies, but I did forget the camera! We all had a wonderful time and the gals really enjoyed all the projects we designed for them. We had close to 40 people and I didn't hear any complaints about anything! As a result though, I don't have any fun pix to share with you from the stamp camp. Sorry - you'll have to take my word for it, it was a blast. Here's the projects we made:







I was so exhausted by Saturday night that I totally fell into bed and spent the day yesterday recuperating. Worth every minute and every bit of energy though. I have a great group of gals that come to my classes and I am so grateful to each and every one of them for supporting me like they do. Some of the gals traveled many miles to come to the stamp camp and all my fellow demonstrators commented on what wonderful, creative people they are! I AGREE and send a huge Thank You out to each one of them. Thanks girls - you are the BEST!

Sabrina came over tonight and we had a wonderful time and got lots of fun things made. Some I'll show you tomorrow and some have to wait till Wednesday - after they get delivered.

Thanks for visiting!

~chris

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles

If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

New Challenge on Catch the Bug!

There's a new challenge posted over on Catch the Bug. The theme is April Showers and it's a sketch challenge:

My fellow buggy buddies and I have made some very fun creations, so be sure to stop over and check them all out! We'd all really love it if you played along too. Here's mine:


I just love this little guy and he is so fun to paper piece! This wonderful striped paper is from a new dp pack from SU called Designer Oasis that goes on sale on May 1 in the Spring Mini Catalog. Gorgeous stuff! The flower is a die cut from PTI out of the same paper pack. The ribbon is Old Olive satin ribbon from SU and I added some dew drops. Sentiment is just computer generated in my word processor! I am working on some sentiments that I may share here in the near future. I love fonts and I love graphics and I have been having some fun creating some sentiments so keep an eye out.

Today is our big Spring Stamp Camp! I think that I am ready and that maybe I'll actually have a workshop where I don't forget something! It will be a first and I'm excited! We have about 50 gals coming to stamp and I think it's going to be great fun. I'll try to get some pix and be back later to share them with you.

Thanks for visiting!

~chris

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles

If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

TGIF - It's Freebie Friday at Catch the Bug

Jodie has some more goodness to share with everyone today, so be sure to stop over at Catch the Bug and check out all the fabulous projects from the dt. Here's mine:


How fun is this image? I'm still feverishly prepping for tomorrow's big Spring Stamp Camp. One of these days I will actually hold a workshop where I don't forget anything - maybe this will be the one? We'll see.

Blog candy winner is: Lorena! Diane took herself out of the drawing this time so that means that Lorena is #15. Congratulations Lorena!

Thanks for visiting!

~chris

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles

If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Oldie Bug Goodie!

Today is Oldie Bug Goodie day at Catch the Bug. Here's my card:

I am feverishly cutting paper, making kits and trying to stay organized for our big Spring Stamp Camp on Saturday. Should be loads of fun and I'll try to take some pix to share with you of all the gals.

Thanks for visiting today!

~chris

Click here to check out the current blog candy I am offering!

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Some More French Greetings

Here's some more cards for my aunt. I'm almost ready to box them up and ship them out. She has reached her summer headquarters so it's time. Aunt Ellie, if you are reading this, your box will be on it's way by the weekend! Love you!








Thanks for visiting!
~chris

Click here to check out the current blog candy I am offering!

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Another Isabella's Sketchbook card

Here is another card I made with an image from Isabella's Sketchbook. I colored it with markers and then went over the watering can with an aqua-painter to try and soften it a bit. Card base is Bordering Blue with mats of Rich Razzleberry.



Thanks for visiting! Don't forget to click on the link below and leave a comment for a chance at some blog candy.

~chris

Click here to check out the current blog candy I am offering!

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #29

It's time for a new challenge over on the Kaboodle Doodles Challenge Blog. This time around we are embossing! Here's my project:



I used an embossing folder on the butterflies and the sentiment is heat embossed. The stamped images are from PTI and the sentiment is from SU. Inks used were Lovely Lilac and Almost Amethyst - I will miss them so when they retire! Card stock for the butterflies is Lovely Lilac and Elegant Eggplant.

Thanks for visiting today!

~chris

Click here to check out the current blog candy I am offering!

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Blog Candy!

To celebrate getting 40k+ hits and hitting the 750+ mark in number of posts, as promised I'm going to be offering up some blog candy. Here it is:


It's going to be short and sweet - leave a comment and tell me what kinds of things you'd like to see more of on this blog and get a chance to win. I'll pick a winner using random.org on Friday, April 23.

Thanks for visiting!

~chris

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Sentimental Sundays - Challenge #1

My very talented friend, Ann Vento (Raindrop Echo Designs) has started a new challenge blog called Sentimental Sundays. Ann creates some of the most beautiful digital sentiment stamps I have ever seen and so I guess it was just natural for her to start a challenge blog featuring sentiments. Here's the card I made for her very first challenge:

The sentiment is from a set called Just to Say that Ann designed. The image is from a new-to-me digital stamp company called Isabella's Sketchbook (you know I can't resist anything named Isabella). I painted with my watercolor crayons and an aqua-painter, and cut out the image and sentiment using my nesties.

Thanks for visiting today! Tomorrow is a new challenge on the Kaboodle Doodle Challenge blog, so be sure to stop back and see my project.

~chris

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Freebie Friday on Catch the Bug

Well it's Friday again - YAY - and that means that Jodie has some more treats to share on Catch the Bug! I used the collection of flowers to make these notecards:








I always thought that using watercolors with images printed on an inkjet printer would make the black bleed and run - guess what - it doesn't! I had my watercolor crayons out from our downline make and take and just thought I'd give it a try and was so very pleasantly surprised when it worked just fine. These are all made on a base of Brilliant Blue (I will be sad to see this color retire) and matted on various matching SU colors. They are just blank inside so they can be anything at all depending on need. The ladybugs were colored with markers and the background color in the rectangles was colored on the computer, but everything else was colored with watercolor crayons and an aqua-painter.

DH and I spent a very enjoyable afternoon at the ballpark yesterday (even tho the Rockies lost) and I got my first blush of sunburn. The countdown is beginning, even though he hasn't set a departure date yet, for his trip east to spend the summer on Belmira. He's going to start a blog even!

I'm also going to play along with Ali Edwards Week in the Life project starting on Sunday. A great challenge to use photography, scrapbooking and journaling to chronicle a week in your life. We'll see how it goes!

Thanks for visiting today! There will be blog candy this weekend so be sure to stop back by and visit.

~chris

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

New Class

Here are a couple of projects I made for an upcoming class I will be having:



I got this idea from a friend (Karen) who brought in a frame made by one of my fellow downline members, Kathy (thanks Kathy and Karen)! It was such a hit at the workshop that the gals talked me in to doing it as a class. The class will be sometime in mid-May before I head to Alaska and I plan to make one more sample before then and will share it when it's done.

Thanks for visiting today. DH and I got our new laptops last night and got our Skype accounts all set up so that we can talk to each other boat to home! He will be heading out for the boat in early May and will be gone for several months sailing on the New England coast. Hopefully, being able to talk to each other and actually SEE each other using Skype will help lessen the miles.

~chris

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

New Release Day at Catch the Bug

It's time for another new release on the Catch the Bug Challenge Blog. I cannot tell you how much fun I have been having being part of this design team! So much creative energy - it's astounding! In playing with these two new images, I couldn't just make one card each - had to do two - fun, fun, fun! Here they are:




I have been playing with coloring my digital stamps in my graphics program - could you tell? It is so fun to be able to color using a pattern and then print out a sheet of the pattern to match and use it on the card too! I thought that this gal really screamed animal prints and so I used zebra and leopard both on her dress and on the background and button.

Thanks for visiting today and be sure to stop over at the Catch the Bug Challenge blog and check out the marvelous creations from the rest of the design team!

~chris

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Downline Make & Takes and some more French cards

My fabulous upline Pat, came up with a couple of winning make and take projects for us today. The first is another card inspired by Michelle Zindorf (Freedom in Creating) - are your ears burning again - you were certainly the topic of more conversation today? The second was using the new Awash with Flowers set that will debut in the new catalog in July, but you can get it now. We used colors that will be retiring this summer too!



Then I made a couple more French sentiment cards to add to my pile for my aunt. The first one is my make and take from today, but if you look closely you can see that I spritzed it with the new Smooch Spritz to give it a little extra zing! The other is my design for the upcoming stamp camp on April 24.



Many thanks to Pat for being such a wonderful hostess and feeding us a delicious lunch of quiche and salad and to Roberta for baking her always wonderful bread and the scrumptious rhubarb pie! I am blessed to be part of this wonderful group of stampers! And thanks also to Kathy and Patricia for the great companionship and conversation!

Thanks for visiting today!

~chris

Design Team Member - Catch the Bug
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.